Faculty Syllabus

ACC email account:

Student is required to have active ACC email address. All course and college e-mail communication to students will be sent solely to the student’s ACCmail account with the expectation that such communications will be read in a timely fashion (see “Student Instructional Services” below).

Instructional Methodology

This online course will be comprised of weekly modules consisting of lecture videos, supplemental materials, and readings. There are no “meeting times” but rather, you will be expected to watch and read all materials each week. All new material for the week will be up by end of the day on Mondays! To keep you engaged week-to-week, you will have discussions and/or quizzes each week assessing your comprehension of the unit information and to get your noodle going on themes and issues in the study of ancient art. Major benchmarks include three open-note/open-book exams and 4 short writing or reflection assignments. Each weekly section will highlight the most important artworks to focus on both in reading and in video lectures. Treat these as a kind of checklist as to what may be on quizzes and exams.

Online classes are not for everyone, they are much more self-paced and you must hold yourself accountable for keeping up with material. My suggestion is to keep a fixed schedule for yourself. Block out specific times to watch lectures, keep on top of deadlines, and maintain an open line of communication with me; check for announcements and open your ACC Gmail often! Students will use the Blackboard learning management system for assignment instructions, submitting assignments, and collaboration.

Grading System:

• Weekly Multiple choice quizzes on current content
• One formal analysis paper
• One object presentation
• Three written take-home exams

Course Policies

• Participation: Regular and timely class participation in discussions and completion of work is expected of all students. If compliance with other course policies and deadlines is unsatisfactory, the instructor may withdraw students from the class. In the event of further closures or worsening the current pandemic situation, the student is responsible for communicating with their professor during the closure and completing any assignments or other activities designated.

• Missed or Late work: The student must be mindful of deadlines set forth at the beginning of the semester. Only in extreme cases will the short weekly assignments, such as quizzes or discussion sections, be accepted after the deadline. For other assignments such as the papers and exams, you may submit them up to two days after the deadline with up to 10 points deducted for each day late. These will not be accepted after the 3rd day. Remember, however, to be in contact with your professor if any extenuating circumstances may arise.

• Incomplete: Instructors will issue an “incomplete” grade only for extraordinary cases with extenuating circumstances. An incomplete will be granted only in rare circumstances. Generally, to receive an “I,” a student must have successfully completed most of the course work (i.e.: 2/3rds with 70% or higher). If, after the last date to withdraw, a student has a serious situation occur which prevents course completion and the student produces a valid, documented excuse in writing, an incomplete may be granted. An incomplete grade cannot be carried beyond the date in the following semester as determined by the instructor. The final deadline to complete the course work will be no later than the final withdrawal date in the subsequent semester. If the course work is not completed, the grade becomes an “F.”

• Withdrawal: It is up to the student’s discretion for dropping a course either due to inability to complete the weekly modules and assignments, or for low marks. The instructor reserves the right to initiate withdrawal if a student has missed 6 or more quizzes or is not successfully completing course work (please see “ACC Student Handbook” for dropping and withdrawal guidelines).

Required Texts/Materials:

• Textbook:

Stokstad and Cothren Art History Volume 1, 6th or 7th Edition (Pearson, 2018)

Physical copy: ISBN: 9780134479279

You may get any version of the 6th edition Volume 1 that fits your budget including: renting, digital/Kindle, loose-leaf or online versions, or REVEL directly from Pearson publishers.

You DO NOT have to purchase online “MyArtsLab” or “REVEL” access, only the text is

required!

You DO NOT have to purchase the “full” 6th edition, we will only be covering information in the first half of the textbook (Volume 1).

You may also use the 5th edition Volume 1, but it is your responsibility to ensure your information and images match those covered in lectures and exams. Editions earlier than the 5th are not recommended.

• Blackboard course website:

All announcements, attendance, assignments, quizzes and exam grades will be submitted and/or posted on Blackboard. Ensure that you familiarize yourself with the site prior to any deadlines. Blackboard “malfunctions” are not a valid excuse for late assignments.

Course Description:

A chronological analysis of the historical and cultural contexts of the visual arts from prehistoric times to the 14th century.

This course examines the origins and nature of art in a variety of ancient civilizations from around the world, including Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas from the dawn of civilization through the Middle Ages. The class takes critical and analytical point of view in considering how art is conceived cross-culturally, as well as how we, as students of art, may study profound works of sculpture, painting, architecture, metalwork, ceramics and textiles within their own social and historical contexts. While introducing students to art history as an academic discipline, the course will also emphasize skills in critical thinking, looking and observation, visual analysis, and cultural comparisons that contribute to a broader knowledge of world histories and cultures and how people of the past engaged with their world though visual art. In essence, this course is a history of the ancient world as told through pictures!

Prerequisites:

College level Reading and Writing Requirements. Students will be expected to read about 450 pages of textbook and should be able to synthesize information using correct English grammar in written assignments.

Course Rationale:

The purpose of Art History I is to introduce students to the development of period styles from prehistoric times through the Middle Ages.  Students will acquire knowledge of important examples of art and architecture from different cultures of this period.

This class fulfills the Creative Arts requirement of the Core Curriculum outline.

Common Course Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the course, students will:

• Identify and describe works of art based on their chronology and style, using standard categories and terminology.
• Investigate major artistic developments and significant works of art from prehistoric times to the late Middle Ages.
• Analyze the relationship of art to history by placing works of art within cultural, historical and chronological contexts.
• Critically interpret and evaluate works of art.

Discipline Specific Program Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the course, students will:

• Write meaningful formal descriptions and critical analyses of art works.
• Explain how formal and compositional properties express and convey content.
• Recognize, comparatively analyze, and contextualize differences in artistic styles.
• Gain insight to diverse perspectives and relate art history to broader life experiences.

General Education Outcomes:

• Civic and Cultural Awareness - Analyzing and critiquing competing perspectives in a democratic society; comparing, contrasting, and interpreting differences and commonalities among peoples, ideas, aesthetic traditions, and cultural practices
• Critical Thinking - Gathering, analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating and applying information. 
• Personal Responsibility - Identifying and applying ethical principles and practices; demonstrating effective learning, creative thinking, and personal responsibility.
• Interpersonal Skills - Interacting collaboratively to achieve common goals
• Written, Oral and Visual Communication - Communicating effectively, adapting to purpose, structure, audience, and medium.
• Technology Skills - Using appropriate technology to retrieve, manage, analyze, and present information.